U8 Shooting/Passing Exercises
Paint the Field-Passing
Description
In pairs, players will pass the soccer
ball back and forth in a 20x25 yard
grid. Explain to the players that their
soccer ball is a paint brush and
wherever it rolls it will paint the area.
Their task to pass (kick) the soccer ball
to paint as much of the grid as
possible in the allotted time.
Version 2: Tell the players to use the
other foot









Clean Your Backyard
4 Corner Shooting
Doctor, Doctor
Description
Split the players into two teams to
play in a 20x25 yard gird. With cones,
divide the field into three portions.
The central portion (the buffer zone)
is 6yds wide (no one can enter it
except to get a ball) Place 3 goals
(3yds each) at the far ends of the grid.
Players will try to shoot/pass and
score below knee height in any of the
other team’s goals.
Version 2: Allow teams to defend the
goals using their hands.






Description
In 20x25 yard grid with cone goals at
each end, players of the same team
are placed by the corner cones of the
goal they are defending. Half of the
team is in a line at one cone and the
other half at the other cone. The
coach is standing outside the middle
with all the balls. The game starts
when the coach serves the ball into
the field. The game is over when one
team scores or the ball goes out of
bounds. Players need to get out of the
field quickly and get back in line.
Version 2: Add Goalkeepers
Description
2 teams. Send them to their hospital
(corner boxes). Each team selects a
doctor. Dr will cure (unfreeze) their
team’s players. Teams try to freeze
each other by hitting the players with
their balls below knees or striking their
balls. When frozen, players must put
ball above head, remain in place, and
yell “Doctor, Doctor”. The Dr is
without a ball, and is safe in the
hospital, but when out, he can be
frozen. When the doctor is frozen the
game is over.
Coaching Points
Strike ball with the inside of foot
(logo of shoe)
Plant foot next to ball pointing to
target
Use arms to balance
Knees bent, passing foot’s toes
up, ankle locked
Striking leg should move
smoothly to target, not off to
side
Passing and receiving technique
Weight of the pass
Ability to pass through traffic
Communication and mobility of
the players
Coaching Points
Strike ball with laces of shoe
Plant foot next to ball pointing to
target
Use arms to balance
Toe pointed down, ankle locked
Striking leg should move
smoothly to target, not off to
side
Simple decision-making
Coaching Points



Application of dribbling, passingreceiving and shooting
technique under pressure
1v1 defending
Decision making
Coaching Points






Dribbling Technique
Protect the ball
Passing technique
Wight and accuracy of the pass
U8 Shooting/Passing Exercises
Gate Passing
Catching Robbers
Description
In a 20x25 yard grid, set up many gates
(two cones about 2 yards apart).
Players are now in pairs with a soccer
ball. They must pass the soccer ball
through the gate to their teammate in
order to score a point.
Coach: Players count how many points
they score in a minute. Repeat asking
the players to beat their score by one
or more points. You can also ask them
to pass with the inside or outside of
the foot, and using their favorite foot
or with the other foot.
Coaching Points





Description
All players are spread around a 20x25
grid. Only two players (the cops) have
soccer balls. When the coach says
“let’s catch some robbers”, the cops
attempt to catch the robbers who are
running around the grid by striking
their legs below knee height with their
soccer balls. Once a robber is caught,
he/she goes and gets any ball from the
perimeter and becomes a cop.
Coach: Place the balls that are not
being used around the perimeter of the
grid.
Power-Finesse
Balls by a post and ball up on top of the box. Players start in a line up

top, take a touch and then shoot. Follow their shot forward and receive

another ball passed out from the post to shoot first time.
Variation: divide into teams and make a competition or have the team

compete against the coach/GK
Shooting with Both Feet
Description
Balls start at an age-appropriate
distance from goal. 2 lines as shown
with balls. Dribble laterally and then
prep the ball with a touch at an angle.
Strike ball with left foot when coming
from the left side of goal and right foot
from right side.
Passing/Receiving Competition
Description
2 lines with 3-4 players in each 4-7yds
apart.
Pass the ball over to other line and
follow your pass. Go to the end of the
line. This should move very fast so not
much standing.
XXX-----------XXX
Variations: receive inside left, pass
inside right and vice versa, receive
outside right, pass inside right and vice
versa, etc
Passing and receiving technique
Dribbling Technique
Decision Making
Weight and accuracy of the pass
Communication and mobility
Coaching Points



Passing technique
Weight of the pass
Accuracy of the pass
Coaching Points
Long shot, use shooting technique
Short shot, use passing technique to
place it
Aim for corners












Coaching Points
Good shooting technique
Angled prep touch
Turn your hips
Land on shooting foot
Aim for corners
Coaching Points
Strike ball with the inside of foot
(logo of shoe)
Plant foot next to ball pointing to
target
Use arms to balance
Knees bent, passing foot’s toes up,
ankle locked
Striking leg should move
smoothly to target, not off to side
Cushion ball when receiving it and
touch it to an angle to play it back
quickly
Play 2 touch